#46 – Col. O. B. Willcox

GENERAL: My brigade, the Second, of Heintzelman’s division, marching in rear of Franklin’s brigade, arrived at the Sudley Ford at about 12.30 p.m., July 21, 1861. The brigade now consisted of the First Michigan, Eleventh New York (Fire Zouaves), Thirty-eighth New York, and Arnold’s battery. The Fourth Michigan had been left at Fairfax Station and Fairfax Court-House by the order of General McDowell. Halting for rest and water, I obeyed the general’s orders to post Arnold’s battery on a hill commanding the ford, with the First Michigan for support, and at 1 o’clock pushed forward with my two remaining regiments up the Sudley and Brentsville road. We marched about two miles, and came upon the left of what I supposed to have been Franklin’s line, near the junction of the Warrenton and Sudley roads. The troops on our left were engaged in a desultory fire with the enemy, posted in the thicket and ravine across the Warrenton road, not far from the Robinson house. The Thirty-eighth New York was quickly formed in order of battle, and the zouaves were hastening into line, when I received an order to detach a regiment for the support of Ricketts’ battery (of Franklin’s brigade), posted on a hill a quarter of a mile to our right and front, near Dogan’s house. I led up the zouaves for this important service, leaving the Thirty-eighth under its gallant and experienced colonel, Hobart Ward. Ricketts was soon ordered to take a new position near the Robinson house. The zouaves followed in support, and finally formed line on the right flank of the battery, with two companies in reserve.

Up to this time the enemy had fallen back, but now he formed the remains of his brigades engaged with Hunter in the morning, viz, Bee’s, Barton’s, and Evans’, in a new line, upon Jackson’s brigade of fresh troops, making altogether 6,500 infantry, 13 pieces of artillery, and Stuart’s Cavalry, according to General Beauregard’s report. This force was posted in the belt of woods which skirted the plateau southwardly, and lying in the angle formed in that direction, between the Warrenton and Sudley roads, about a mile from the Warrenton road, and with its left resting on the Brentsville and Sudley road.

Ricketts’ battery had crossed the Sudley road from its post near Dogan’s house, and was within musket-range of the woods, which stretched from that road around from his right towards his front, and forming a pocket, which almost enveloped the battery, with its support.

The enemy were first discovered by Colonel Heintzelman lining the woods in our front. He ordered up the zouaves, commanded by Colonel Farnham. The ground was slightly rising before us, and the enemy opened a heavy but not destructive fire as we reached the crest. The zouaves returned the fire, but immediately fell back, bewildered and broken. Stuart’s Cavalry charged upon them from the woods on the right, but were scattered by a fire from the two reserve companies, with a loss (ascertained from the Southern papers) of twenty-nine killed and wounded. Meantime Ricketts’ cannoneers were being picked off. With Colonel Heintzelman’s approval, and a promise of re-enforcements, I collected some one hundred zouaves, and, with Captain Downey and others of their officers, made a dash into the woods on our right, and killed, wounded, and captured about thirty of the enemy. Returning in a few minutes, I found the field cleared of both friends and foe, except the killed and wounded. The horses, men, and two officers of Ricketts’ battery lay stretched upon the ground, but the enemy had not yet seized it. Recrossing the Sudley road, I met the First Michigan, Major Bidwell commanding, and, marching back with this regiment, we found the enemy now drawn up in a thin line across the field and in possession of the battery. Advancing to the fence on the roadside, the First Michigan opened fire. The right wing fell back to reload, owing to a blundering order, but the left stood firm, expelled the enemy, and retook the battery. The troops here opposed to us I believe to have been the Seventh Georgia. Colonel Heintzelman now came up, and ordered us promptly forward, and, with the promise of another regiment, it was my design to turn the enemy’s left. The left wing of the First Michigan recrossed the field, struck into the woods beyond the zouaves, succeeded in destroying and capturing a small number of the enemy, and pushing back his extreme left out of that part or point of the woods adjacent to the Sudley road.

Meantime the right wing of the First Michigan reformed, and advanced in good order. I met it, and we pushed on towards the next point of woods. From this point I found the enemy’s left discovered us by our fire, and we became engaged with their rear rank, their front being occupied by the advancing troops of Franklin’s or Sherman’s brigade. The officers and men of the First Michigan stood up bravely at this critical moment, holding on anxiously for re-enforcements. But, from all I can learn, the Thirty-eighth, which was ordered up to me, was directed to the left of the Robinson house (instead of to the right and along the Sudley road), came in contact with the enemy’s center, and never reached me.

It was now 4 o’clock. General Beauregard had been gathering new re-enforcements. General Kirby Smith had joined him with a portion of Johnston’s army. Our scattered troops were contending in fractions against the enemy’s army, in position and massed on the plateau, with his artillery sweeping every approach. General Johnston was brining fresh troops to turn our own right. The Twenty-eighth Virginia attacked my own handful from the rear in the woods, and I had the ill-fortune to be wounded, and a few moments afterwards captured. But I was spared witnessing the disaster which further pursued our arms.

In this report I have only endeavored to supply partly the information that was not known or found in any other report, in consequence of my capture. Permit me to add, further, that the Thirty-eighth New York was distinguished for its steadiness in ranks, and for gallantly repelling a charge made upon it by the New Orleans Tigers. The zouaves, though broken as a regiment, did good service, under my own eyes, in the woods, and detachments of them joined other regiments in the fight. The First Michigan deserves the credit of advancing farther into the enemy’s lines than any other of our troops, as their dead bodies proved after the battle.

I only regret that, from the fact of my separation from Arnold’s battery, I cannot add any testimony of my own to the well-known gallantry with which he and his command conducted themselves.

I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, yours,

O. B. WILLCOX,

Brigadier-General, late Colonel First Michigan Infantry

Brig. Gen. L. Thomas,

Adjutant-General U. S. Army

[Indorsement.]

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 21, 1865

This report is respectfully forwarded. It gives some details not in previous reports. The Thirty-eighth New York, Colonel Ward, was in the rear and little to the right of the Robinson house, and did not get up as far as the house. After the zouaves, I led up the First Minnesota and then the First Michigan, and both were repulsed. They, however, rallied and passed to the right into the woods, and the First Michigan, on the extreme right, held the most advanced position we occupied that disastrous day. My division, when I marched from Alexandria, had an aggregate of 9,463 men, but from detachments made by the commanding general at different times, I went into action with less than 5,000 men. The Third Brigade, Colonel Howard, did not arrive on the field until late in the day, about the time the panic commenced. He was detached soon after we crossed Cub Run, early in the day, by General McDowell. I did not see the brigade until some half hour after I was wounded and after the Brooklyn Fourteenth gave way.

In consequence of the wounding and capture of Captain Ricketts, I have no report of his battery. His first lieutenant, Douglas Ramsay, I saw late in the day doing his duty faithfully and well. A few moments later he was shot dead, and soon after we lost the battery.

The accompanying report from Fairfax Station, dated July 17, 1861, properly belongs to this report.

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3 responses

Of the 11th NY Zouaves, Willcox gives a fairly favorable report of their service at Bull Run unlike other official accounts I’ve read. Was the 11th NY unjustly blamed for tactical errors/blunders made by others commanding them? Is there an account written by one of the 11th NY’s own officers about the day’s events during Bull Run. The closest credible account I’ve found is an interview the NY Times published July 26, 1861 featuring Lt. Ed Knox of Company A. I am the kniswoman of a 11th NY Zouave Bull Run participant, Lt. Lucius S. Larrabee of Co K. Larrabee and Knox were two of several men associated with Ellsworth’s Chicago Zouave group in 1860, who also became members of the 11th NY and later the 44th NYVI.
Linda

There is no OR for the 11th – Farnham was struck in the head by a spent ball during the battle, and while the wound was at first thought to be minor, he died from it a few days later. There is plenty of confusion regarding the 11th’s role, due in part to the lack of an OR, confusion with the 14th Brooklyn, a general dislike of the regiment by many regulars (particularly Heintzelman), and the likelihood that they lost unit cohesion fairly early, but continued to fight in conjunction with other units (like the 69th NY militia) during the afternoon. I plan to post other 11th NY accounts from newspapers, etc., and will be sure to pull the one you mention from the NYT archive. I have written a good deal on the 11th on Bull Runnings – just type “Zouave” into the search box over to the right. Anything you’d like to share relative to the regiment at Bull Run, or biographical information on your ancestor, is most welcome and would be put to good use here with your permission.

Another website in addition to the one you mention which has proved to be very informative about the 11th NY is located at: http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/11thInf/11thInfCWN.htm
Once you wade through all the clippings there are some insightful articles about the 11th NY during Bull Run, and about the negativity afterward towards the unit. There is one clipping that describes the 11th’s recapture of the 69th’s flag taken by the rebels during the battle.
I also enclose the url for the NY Times article which features Lt. Knox’s account. He specifically describes the Black Horse Cavalry charge. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9902E4D8143EE43BBC4E51DFB166838A679FDE
As far as Lt. Larrabee’s involvement during Bull Run, I am clueless as to where Co K was that day. I did find that Co K was nicknamed the Left Flank Co. and he served under Capt. Andrew Purtell of Co K. Lt. Larrabee was an original member of Ellsworth’s Chicago Zouave group that went on a whirlwind 6 wk. US cities tour in July 1860. He was selected to go to NY and help Ellsworth train the firemen. I believe Larrabee had originally intended to enlist with an IL regiment, but Ellsworth or his #2 man, Stryker, offered him a lt. position with the Fire Zouaves. Lt. Larrabee was my grandmother’s uncle, whom we knew very little about. He was born in New York state and relocated to the Chicago area in 1856. I have since discovered that in addition to the training+ participating with the 11th NY firemen; he later was also involved with the formation of the 44th NY. He tragically was the first officer of the 44th NY killed at “Little Round Top” at Gettysburg. He (Captain now) and his Co B were sent out as skirmishers upon arrival at the hill. He determined that there were rebels approaching up the hill in force; he gave the order for his men to fall back. He was shot and killed as he was turning back early the afternoon of July 2, 1863. He was just days short of turning 26 years old.
Linda

Dulce bellum inexpertis

“I am sending you these little incidents as I hear them well authenticated. They form, to the friends of the parties, part of the history of the glorious 21st. More anon.”

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Hello! I’m Harry Smeltzer and welcome to Bull Runnings, where you'll find my digital history project on the First Battle of Bull Run which is organized under the Bull Run Resources section. I'll also post my thoughts on the processes behind the project and commentary on the campaign, but pretty much all things Civil War are fair game. You'll only find musings on my “real job” or my personal life when they relate to this project. My mother always told me "never discuss politics or religion in mixed company”, and that's sound advice where current events are concerned.

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This site is more than a blog. Bull Runnings also hosts digitized material pertaining to First Bull Run. In the Bull Run Resources link in the masthead and also listed below are links to Orders of Battle, After Action Reports, Official Correspondence, Biographical Sketches, Diaries, Letters, Memoirs, Newspaper Accounts and much, much more. Take some time to surf through the material. This is a work in process with no end in sight, so check back often!